Stationary hinge for casket handles

ABSTRACT

Hinge mechanism for mounting several handles upon a casket shell in such a manner that each handle is swingable through a predetermined arc from inoperative to operative position independently of the other handles.

United States Patent Relly et al.

[54] STATIONARY HINGE FOR CASKET HANDLES Inventors:

Assignee: Batesvllle Casket Company, Inc.,'

' Batesville, lnd.

Filed: v Sept. 25, 1970 Appl.No.: 75,584

u.s.c|. ..16/112,27/2

Int. Cl ....A47h 95/02, A61g 17/04 Field of Search ..27/2, 35; 16/112, 126

Robert a. Relly; Charles F. Winburn, both of Cincinnati, Ohio; Herbert K. Y. Sun, Sunman,lnd.

[451 Apr. 25, 1972 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 481,853 8/1892 Eichstaedt ..l6/l26 ux 2,087,486 7/1937 Smith ..27/3s Primary Examiner DOnaId A. Grifi'in Attorney-George H. Simmons and Robert V. Jambor ABSTRACT Hinge mechanism for mounting several handles upon a casket shell in such a manner that each handle is swingable through-a predetermined are from inoperative to operative position independently of the other handles.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented April 25, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented April 25, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet z 1 STATIONARY FOR CASKET HANDLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Handles for burial caskets have heretofor been either'stationary or of the parallel swing bar type. The stationary handles have been attached to the casket shell and spaced outwardly therefrom sufficiently to permit the handle to be grasped to permit the casket to be lifted and carried. The swing type have consisted of a single bar mounted upon each side and each end of the shell by hinge hangers which pennit the bar to be moved as a unitary structure from a non-operative position through a small arc to an operative position.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improved mechanism for mounting several aligned handles upon the sides of a casket shell in such a manner that each handle can be swung through a small are from a non-operative position to an operative position independently of the other handles.

The mechanism includes mounting plates fixed upon the casket shell in spaced apart relation. Each plate is provided with a pair of cars into whichv a handle arm is connected. A handle bar is connected with each arm and extended to the arm connected to the adjacent'p'late. The ears contain perforations into which the arms are positioned, which perforations are shaped to limit movement of the arms through a desired small arc. Ornamental covers are provided for the mechanism to render the arrangementpleasing in appearance.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 6 is an elevational view showing an ornamental cover I applied to the assembly; and

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a handle arm partly in cross section along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail, in FIG. I there is shown a casket 10 having handle 11 supported thereon by handle arms 12 with the supporting mechanism covered by an ornamental cover 13. Base trims 14 extend between adjacent covers 13 by which they are clamped upon the casket shell. As shown, there are three handles attached to each side of the shell and one handle on each end thereof.

As will be seen in FIG. 2, the handle bars are supported upon the casket shell by a mounting plate which has pierced cars 21 projecting from its vertical edges adjacent the top of the plate. The plate is attached to the casket'shell in convenient manner such as by screws projected through openings 22 in the plate and through the side wall of the casket shell.

As will be seen best in FIG. 3, each perforation in each ear 21 is in the shape of a fragment ofa round hole and has opposed parallel inwardly'extending flat surfaces 23. Surfaces 23 are disposed almost at right angles to the base of plate 20. In the embodiment shown, these surfaces form an obtuse angle of 95 with the lower part of the ear 21 and the base 20. Each perforation also has opposed parallel sides 24 disposed at an angle of approximately 30 from the corresponding surface 23.

As will be seen-in FIGS. 2 and 6, the handle arms 12 consist of a flat steel member 25 embedded in an outer casting preferably composed 'of zinc. The casting includes a cylindrical hub 26 at its upper end from which the end 27 of the steel insert 25 projects a short distance. I

From the lower end of the casting of handle arm 12 generally wedge shaped projections 28 are spaced apart and the lower end 29 of the metal insert 25 is positioned between these projections. 29 of the insert.

The handle bar 11 consists of a metal body preferably steel which, in the embodiment. shown by way of example, is rectangular in cross section. From one side of the body 11 are intumed edges 31 which are spaced apart a distance sufficiently large to permit the tongue 29 to be inserted therebetween.

Each intumed edge contains a rectangular opening 32 into which the lug will project tosecure the handle bar to the handle arm.

The castings of handle arms 12 may be plated or painted to give a desired appearance to the handle. As will be seen in FIG. 6, the handle bars .11 are covered by a plastic cover 33 which'may be colored to harmonize or contrast with the color of the casket shell as desired.

To conceal the hinge mechanism and to'add to the appearance of the casket, there is provided a rigid molded plastic cover 35. The side walls 36 of the cover are of such thickness that the outer surface of the cover lies in substantially the same plane as the outer surface of the handle arm 12 when the handle arm is in its non-operative position. The cover 35 contains a recessed central portion 37 in which an ornament 38 is fixed in convenient manner such as by gluing. The ornament contains a design 39 which may be varied within the teachings of the invention and may harmonize with the color of the cover and ornament, or contrast therewith, as desired.

When mounting the handles upon the casket shell, the mounting plate 20 is fixed upon the side wall of the casket shell and an ornamental cover 35 is applied thereto and secured by convenient manner, such as by screws 40. The handle arm 12 is then registered with the assembly with the projection 27 thereon registered with the surfaces 23 of the ear 2] of the bracket. One end of a handle bar 11 is then registered with the handle arm and the lug 30 on the extension 29 registered with the opening32 in the handle bar. The opposite end of the handle bar is then equipped with a second handle arm, now shown, and the projecting end 27 registered with an ear on a second mounting plate. The second mounting plate is i then attached to the side wall of the casket shell.

This process is continued until all of the handle bars have been mounted upon the side wall of the shell.

A base trim member 42 which in one instance is composed of bright stainless steel, is registered-with the side wall of the casket shell and projected into the adjacent ends of adjacent ornamental covers 35 to be secured thereby upon the casket shell.

- In addition to the handles on the sides of the casket, a bandle is also installed on'each end thereof. To accomplish this, one of the mountingbrackets 20 is formed at right angles when a square cornered casket shell is encountered and formed as an arc 20" when a round cornered casket is encountered. Suitable plastic covers, now shown, are attached to the comer mounts in suitable manner.

When the handle arms 12 are in their normal non-operative position, they will be held slightly out of vertical by the engagement of projection 27 with the surfaces 23 in the ears 21 of the mounting plate 20. Thus, the lower ends of the arms 12 and the handle bars 11 will be spaced a short distance outwardly from the wall of the shell. When it is desired to carry the casket, the handle bars 11 are swung outwardly through approximately 30 to engage the projection 27 with the surfaces 24 and the ears.

In the embodiments shown by way of example, there are three handle bars 11 mounted upon each side of the casket 10.

A lug .30 is struck out of the projecting end I the invention will be met. The arrangement permits great latitude in ornamentation of the casket body to render it pleasing in appearance.

Having thus complied with the statutes and shown and described a preferred embodiment of our invention what we consider new and desired to have protected by letters patent is pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: v

l. Mechanism for mounting swing bar handles upon a casket shell, comprising:

a. a plurality of mounting plates fixed upon the shell in spaced apart relation; 4

b. a pair of perforated ears on each plate located on opposite edges of the plates adjacent the tops thereof;

c. a handle arm pivotally connected to each ear by a rectangular projection on' the arm disposed in a perforation in the ear;

d. a handle bar connected to the distal ends of each arm and extending between the arms on adjacent plates;

e. a cover extending over each mounting plate and secured thereto;

f. an ornament fixed upon each cover; and

g. a base trim member telescoped into adjacent covers at the bottoms thereof and extending therebetween.

2. A mechanism as specified in claim 1 in which corner mounting plates extend around the corner of the shell and serve to mount one end of a handle on the end of the shell and one end of a handle on the side of the shell.

. -13. A mechanism as specified in claim 1 in which the perforation in each ear includes spaced apart fust surfaces disposed at approximately right angles to the plate and spaced apart second surfaces disposed at angles of approximately 30 from the first surfaces. j

4. Mechanism as specified in claim 1 in which each handle arm consists ofa metal rectangular bar embedded in a metal casting and projecting from-the casting into engagement with said first surfaces in the ear to hold the arm in a non-operative position and into engagement with said second surfaces to limitrotation of the arm around its pivotal connection to the ear as it is moved into an operative position.

5. Mechanism as specified in claim 1 in which the distal end i of the arm casting contains spaced apart wedge shaped projections and in which the embedded bar of the handle projects from the casting between said wedges and contains a lug upturned therefrom.

6. Mechanism as specified in claim 5 in which each handle bar is rectangular in cross section and contains parallel intumed walls which are perforated to receive said lug to lock the ear on the arm with the wedges engaging the inner surfaces of the handle bar with the projecting end of the embedded bar engaging said intumed walls.

7. Mechanism as specified in claim 1 in which each handle arm contains an outer metal casting that is coated with a finish coating of desired color and in which each handle bar is metal which is covered with an ornamental vinyl cover.

8. Mechanism as specified in claim 1 in which the covers are i fonned of molded plastic of desired. color and contain 'a recessed central portion in which an embossed ornament is 9. Mechanism as specified in claim 1 in which the base trim member is composed of stainless steel and is generally rectangular in cross section. 

1. Mechanism for mounting swing bar handles upon a casket shell, comprising: a. a plurality of mounting plates fixed upon the shell in spaced apart relation; b. a pair of perforated ears on each plate located on opposite edges of the plates adjacent the tops thereof; c. a handle arm pivotally connected to each ear by a rectangular projection on the arm disposed in a perforation in the ear; d. a handle bar connected to the distal ends of each arm and extending between the arms on adjacent plates; e. a cover extending over each mounting plate and secured thereto; f. an ornament fixed upon each cover; and g. a base trim member telescoped into adjacent covers at the bottoms thereof and extending therebetween.
 2. A mechanism as specified in claim 1 in which corner mounting plates extend around the corner of the shell and serve to mount one end of a handle on the end of the shell and one end of a handle on the side of the shell.
 3. A mechanism as specified in claim 1 in which the perforation in each ear includes spaced apart first surfaces disposed at approximately right angles to the plate and spaced apart second surfaces disposed at angles of approximately 30* from the first surfaces.
 4. Mechanism as specified in claim 1 in which each handle arm consists of a metal rectangular bar embedded in a metal casting and projecting from the casting into engagement with said first surfaces in the ear to hold the arm in a non-operative position and into engagement with said second surfaces to limit rotation of the arm around its pivotal connection to the ear as it is moved into an operative position.
 5. Mechanism as specified in claim 1 in which the distal end of the arm casting contains spaced apart wedge shaped projections and in which the embedded bar of the handle projects from the casting between said wedges and contains a lug upturned therefrom.
 6. Mechanism as specified in claim 5 in which each handle bar is rectangular in cross section and contains parallel inturned walls which are perforated to receive said lug to lock the ear on the arm with the wedges engaging the inner surfaces of the handle bar with the projecting end of the embedded bar engaging said inturned walls.
 7. Mechanism as specified in claim 1 in which each handle arm contains an outer metal casting that is coated with a finish coating of desired color and in which each handle bar is metal which is covered with an ornamental vinyl cover.
 8. Mechanism as specified in claim 1 in which the covers are formed of molded plastic of desired color and contain a recessed central portion in which an embossed ornament is fixed.
 9. Mechanism as specified in claim 1 in which the base trim member is composed of stainless steel and is generally rectAngular in cross section. 